The action of the vb. CHAFFER: † a. buying and selling, dealing, trading; b. bargaining, haggling; c. fig.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. iii. 14. Betere is the purchasing of it than the chaffering [1388 marchaundie] of gold and siluer.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 68. Chafferynge, mercacio.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. iii. 16. In mennis bargenyngis and cheffaringis to gidere.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. lxxv. 463. If we fall to such Chaffering with him [God].
1597–8. Bp. Hall, Sat., II. v. 14. A thousand patrons … bring Their new-falne churches to the chaffering.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 250. After some chaffering, they agreed to accept eleven guineas.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. vi. 299. Now began a series of sharp chafferings on both sides.
